The Nearness of Our Salvation - Clothe Ourselves with Jesus Christ

February 22, 2013 - Romans 13:11-14

13:11		再 者 、 你 們 曉 得 現 今 就 是 該 趁 早 睡 醒 的 時 候 、 因 為 我 們 得 救 、 現 今 比 初 信 的 時 候 更 近 了 。
13:12		黑 夜 已 深 、 白 晝 將 近 ． 我 們 就 當 脫 去 暗 昧 的 行 為 、 帶 上 光 明 的 兵 器 。
13:13		行 事 為 人 要 端 正 、 好 像 行 在 白 晝 ． 不 可 荒 宴 醉 酒 ． 不 可 好 色 邪 蕩 ． 不 可 爭 競 嫉 妒 。
13:14		總 要 披 戴 主 耶 穌 基 督 、 不 要 為 肉 體 安 排 、 去 放 縱 私 慾 。

¹¹ And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. ¹² The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. ¹³ Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. ¹⁴ Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

Paul exhorts believers to live a life of urgency regarding the nearness of our salvation - the final redemption of our bodies. He contrasts the present age to the Final Day as the night with the day time; and darkness with light. This represents not a physical darkness and light but rather of moral or ethical issues. Therefore, believers are to put aside the deeds of darkness - like sexual immorality, drunkenness, jealousy and others kinds of indulgences or gratification of the flesh. Instead, believers are to behave like Christ - clothes themselves with the Lord of Jesus Christ.

My Lord, You are coming back very soon - almost, nearly here. The present dark age will soon pass away but the age of light with mercy, righteousness, perfection and most importantly Your tabernacle will be in the midst of us forever. My Holy Spirit, speak to me today and enlighten my mind to see how the Kingdom of God has been on earth and will be fully manifested - the day is nearly over and the day is almost here!